Reversible adjustable meat cutting block



May 27, 1958 D. R. STEVENS REVERSIBLE ADJUSTABLE IVHEIIT CUTTING BLOCK ATTORNEY Fig5 aiinired rates Patent() REVERSIBLE ADJUSTABLE MEAT CU'ITING BLOCK David R. Stevens, Dallas, Tex.

Appiication .luly 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,753

2 Claims. (Cl. 146-215) This invention relates to cutting blocks and more par` ticularly to cutting blocks of the typeV used by butchers. One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cutting lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved block having two working or cutting surfaces. An important object is to provide a new and improved cutting block having two cutting or working surfaces, the block being easily reversible to present either cutting surface for use, whereby both cutting surfaces of the lock may be used before resurfacing or reworking either surface, and then both may be reworked at the same time. Still another object of the invention is to provide a reversible cutting block formed of a plurality of sections which are securely held together by tie-bolts or rods.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved reversible cutting block which is removably supported on a bed mounted on legs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved reversible cutting block having a continuous tiange about its circumference by means of which the block is reversibly supported in its bed.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the reversible cutting block,

Figure 2 is a side view of the cutting block shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cutting block,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line S--S of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the reversible 'cutting block it? is supported by a bed 11. The cutting block is composed of a plurality of sections of maple or other suitable wooden blocks suitably joined together to provide a pair of opposed surfaces for cutting meat or the like. A continuous annular peripheral groove or channel 12 is formed in the sides of the cutting block, and four sections 14, 15, 16 and 17 of a heavy bar, preferably of hard wood, are secured in the groove to form a continuous annular peripheral flange projecting outwardly of the block, the bar sections forming the flange being of greater width than the depth of the groove or channel 12. The bar sections 14 and 1o are held together by a plurality of tie-bolts or rods 13 which extend horizontally at spaced intervals through the blocs and also serve to help hold together the usual blocks or sections which compose the block. The tie-bolts 1S are provided on their ends with nuts 19 which are received in suitable recesses 2d in the bar sections 16 and 14, so that none of the tie-rods protrude outwardly of the bar sections 14 and 16. The bar sections 15 and 17 are also held together by similar tie-rods 21 disposed perpendicularly relative to 2,836,213 Patented May 2 7, -1958 ICC the tie-rods 18 and which also serve to hold together the sections of which the block itself is composed. The tierods 21 are similarly provided on their ends with nuts 22, which are received in suitable recesses provided in the bar sections 1S and 16.

It will now be apparent that the cutting block 1t) has two opposed work or cutting faces 26 and 27, and a continuous outwardly extending bar or ange formed by the bar sections 14, 15, 16 and 17 and disposed in a plane parallel to the planes of the cutting surfaces and lies between these two planes.

The reversible cutting block 16 is removably supported in the bed 11 having four vertical side members 31, 32, 33 and 34 which form a rectangle of slightly greater dimensions than the cutting block 10, whereby the cutting block may telescope into the bed 11, but of small enough dimensions that the peripheral outwardly extending harige formed by the bar sections will engage and rest upon the upper edges of the side members when the cutting block is disposed in the bed. The vertical side members 32, 33, 34 and 31 of the bed are provided with reinforcing members 36, 37, 38 and 39, respectively, Which are secured thereto by carriage bolts Lit), disposed intermediate the upper and lower ends of the bed sections.

The bed itself is supported by four posts or legs d2, d3, 44 and 45, and the upper end 43 of each leg passes between the ends of the adjacent reinforcing members whereby said reinforcing members abut the adjacent surfaces of the legs to restrain the upper end portions of the legs against any tilting movement from between the adjacent reinforcing members at each corner. Each leg has a pair of sets of vertically spaced apertures through one set 52 of which a carriage bolt 53 may extend to rigidly secure the leg to the adjacent side member. The other set of vertically spaced apertures extends perpendicular relative to the apertures 52 and these apertures receive a carriage bolt 54 which secures the leg to an adjoining bed side member at each corner. The legs are thus rigidly secured to the bed confined between the ends of the adjacent bracing members, and the provision of a plurality of such vertically spaced apertures permits the height of the upper cutting surface of the block carried by the bed to be varied as desired.

In usual practice, as the cutting surfaces of the cutting block wears away or is damaged by use, the surfaces of the block are reworked or retinished by cutting away the worn or damaged portions of the cutting surfaces and sanding or otherwise providing new smooth planar work surfaces. After the block has been so retinished, the bed itself may be raised on the legs to compensate for the decrease in the thickness or height of the cutting block caused by the refinishing. It will now be apparent that a new and improved cutting block has been iliustrated and described which is removably supported in a bed. It will also be apparent that the cutting block is provided with two opposed horizontal cutting faces or Work surfaces 26 and 27 and with a continuous peripheral outwardly extending flange which is disposed intermediate the two cutting surfaces. It will also be seen that the cutting block may be easily supported in a rectangular bed having four vertical side members upon whose upper edges the flange may rest and support the cutting lock. It will be seen that the cutting surface may be easily reversed since the cutting block itself is not in any way bolted or tied to the bed, such reversal being easily affected by merely lifting the cutting block from the bed, turning it over and replacing it in the bed. The work surfaces of the cutting block may be retinished simultaneously and thus both surfaces will wear substantially uniformly so that when the block is reversed the surfaces will be at proper desired working level. Since both surfaces are used before it is necessary to reiinish them, the frequency of calls for block retinishers is reduced by providing two opposedworle surfaces, the life of the block I *Y '2,836,213 Y' i ff isincreased, and spreading 'of the Ysegments of the block Y as Va result yof refinishing is eliminated. .The block is like- Y wise easy t0 clean.

Y The'VforegoingdescptionAof thevinvention explanaj tory only,.an'd changes in the Vdetails of the constructionV Y iilustrated may be made by those'skilled in the art, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit orfY the invention. l Y v What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: Y Y

l. A cutting block having a'pair of substantially paral-V Y lel opposed cutting surfaces lying in spaced parallel planes, a continuous ange extending about and outwardly Vo t' the cutting block and disposed in a piane parallel to said .'.rst planes and therebetween, aV bed vproviding an upwardly opening 'recess for receiving 'said vcutting block,

saidrbcd having upwardly facing shoulders Vfor engaging Y'said ange to support saidr cutting block thereby, said block being composed of a pluralityof sections;V and y means cooperating with said iange to hold said sections` rigidly together. Y' Y 2. VA cutting block having aipairlorf opposed parallel spaced cutting surfaces and a groove about its periphery disposed in a plane paralle Vto and between the planes4 of the two cutting surfaces,"a bar of greater width ythan the groove disposed within the groove and extending outwardly of the cutting block, ineens securing said oar to Said'block, and a bedfor receiving said cutting block having upwardly facing stop shoulders for engagingV said bar to support said cuttingV block, said block being cornposed of a plurality of sections, said llange being composed of a plurality of-sections, means cooperating with4 said flange to hold said block rigidly together, said Viangel extending mitwardly'ofV said bed.V

References-Cited in the fue 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,437/33'-y Australia e May 13, 19.34 

